School Tools
If your child has a mental illness such as bipolar disorder, there are special resources available in the United States to help children cope with school. Red Flags III - Warning Signs of Suicide
These red flags are the warning signs that a person may be planning suicide. People with bipolar disorder or manic depression often exhibit suicidal behavior. Taming the Fight or Flight Response
This article explains the fight or flight reaction and discusses why some people experience it too easily. It includes a three-part breathing exercise that can help ease the tension. Bipolars and Internet Romance
People with bipolar disorder may be especially vulnerable to the hazards of online relationships - Part 1 of 3. Diet Tips
For bipolar people who are trying to lose weight gained as a side effect of medications - collection of our diet tips. SSRI Discontinuation Syndrome
Practical tips for tapering off antidepressants that cannot safely be stopped all at once. SSRI Discontinuation Syndrome
A look at the causes and symptoms of SSRI Discontinuation Syndrome, which can occur when a person stops taking or reduces dosage of certain antidepressants. Effexor / Venlafaxine
Information about Effexor (venlafaxine), an antidepressant used especially for treatment-resistant depression and also for long-term anxiety. Benadryl / Diphenhydramine Side Effects
Catalogue of side effects for the medication Diphenhydramine / Benadryl. Speaking from Experience: Lithium
Members of the About Bipolar Disorder Forum Community talk about the side effects they experienced when taking Lithium, which is used as a mood stabilizer in treating manic-depressive illness. From Hospital to Graduation!
A member of our forum relates her personal experience with diagnosis of bipolar disorder, medication trials, the good and bad days, and the success of graduating from college despite it all! Counseling From Hell
The terrible story of a so-called Christian counselor who inflicted demons upon a client. Complex Features of Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is more than just mood swings - it can also feature mixed episodes - rapid cycling - psychotic features and other complications. What is Bipolar Disorder?
Textbook definitions of bipolar disorder may not be very enlightening. Here we begin our definition of manic depression in easy to understand language. Study: Topamax Effective for Migraines
A new study has shown that Topamax - generic Topiramate - is effective for reducing the frequency of migraine headaches. Topamax is an epilepsy medication used as a mood stabilizer for bipolar disorder. Weight loss is one of the possible side effects. School Medication Administration
If your child needs to take medicine at school - from prescription drugs to aspirin - you need to know the rules and what you can do to help prevent medication mistakes. FDA Issues Topamax Warning
Warning: Secondary angle closure glaucoma or myopia is a rare but serious side effect of the anticonvulsant / mood stabilizer Topamax (Topiramate). Vision can be permanently affected. Dual Diagnosis
The diagnosis and treatment of the conditions - bipolar disorder plus alcohol and/or substance abuse - tangled in a dual diagnosis is riddled with difficulties. Anticonvulsants Cause Birth Defects
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in April, 2001, found that pregnant women taking anticonvulsant medications, used to treat epilepsy, bipolar disorder and migraines, run a substantially higher risk of having a child with birth defects. Lithium: The First Mood Stabilizer
Lithium causes weight gain. No one knows why yet, but here are some theories. Lithium: The First Mood Stabilizer
Outlines the main warnings for lithium use, including concerns about pregnancy and breast-feeding and drug interactions. Lithium: The First Mood Stabilizer
Tests on thyroid and kidneys need to be run before a person starts taking lithium, and serum levels need to be monitored, as lithium toxicity can be very dangerous. Lithium: The First Mood Stabilizer
The discovery that lithium was a mood stabilizer for manic depression came 50 years before scientists unlocked the secret to how it works. The Kindling Model Revisited
While the Kindling Model has generally been accepted as an explanation for the progression of bipolar disorder over the life time, recent research indicates otherwise. Police Handling of the Mentally Ill
A review of the current situation regarding how police handle the mentally ill and what is being done to improve it. | 